Ronald Temple gets Charge Reduced for Former Stanton County Commissioner

A former Stanton County commissioner can still seek higher office after his charge of fraudulent candidate filing was reduced to a misdemeanor.

William Goodpasture, 59, of 503 Meadow Lane pleaded no contest in Stanton County district court in Stanton to an amended misdemeanor charge.

He had previously been charged with a Class III felony, which, if he had been convicted, would have barred him from seeking higher elective office. Goodpasture is seeking the seat vacated by Sen. Mike Flood of Norfolk for the Nebraska Legislature’s 19th District.

He was convicted on allegations that he wasn’t living in the district he was elected to represent when he was a Stanton County commissioner.

Judge Robert Ensz sentenced Goodpasture to a $1,000 fine and ordered him to pay costs. Goodpasture paid both before leaving the courthouse Monday afternoon.

Knox County Attorney John Thomas served as special prosecutor in the case.